45 S On Safe-Lamps for Coal-Minf.s. 



or silk, placed over the air apcrtues : but metallic gauze ui!T 

 be necessary above in the chimney, I have little doubt but that 

 windows of fine iiictaliic gauze may be used for giving light in 

 lanterns, \^ ith perfect security ; perhaps for the chimney it may 

 be worth while to have fine silver plated wire gauze made. 



3. The expansive powers of the fire-damp during its explosion 

 are so small as to render no precautious, with respect to the 

 thickness of the glass or horn in the lamps or lanterns, necessar}'. 



LXXXIII. On Safe-T.ampsfor Coal ISlir.cs ; ui/ho Descnfjlion 

 of the one invented hy Mr, Stephknson, of Killingivortk 

 Collieiy, 



To Mr. Tillnch. 



Sir, — vJn Tuesday, the 5th of December, a vcrv numerous 

 meeting of the members of the Literary and Philosophical 

 Society at Newcastle-upon-Tyne took place, in consequence of 

 an intimation that some safe-lamps, intended to warn miners 

 of the presence of inflammable air, were to be exhiljited ; and a 

 memoir read on the same interesting subject, which had been 

 kindly transmitted bv its author, Dr. Murray of Edinburgh. Ontliis 

 occasion several vicvvers and otiier gentlemen connected with 

 the coal trade attended. The first lamp produced was that 

 contrived by Dr. Clanny, brought by the inventor in person. Of 

 this machine, with its bellows, water-cisterns, jack and chain, 

 little need be sairl, the Philosophical Transactions having intro- 

 duced it to public notice ; but though tlie Doctor's lamp is unfit 

 for the use of the coal-miner while at work, and equailv so when 

 traversing the narrow and frequently obstructed galleiics of a 

 colliery, yet much praise is certainly due to the individual who 

 v/as the first to dedicate his time, besides spending some money, 

 en a project intended solely for the benefit and protection of a 

 class ot men with which he w^as in no way particularly con- 

 cerned. 



Mr. William Brandling's lamp next occupied the attention of 

 the meeting : it resembles a common lantern in size and shape, 

 with a pair of double bellows fixed on the top, to free it from 

 the air exhausted of oxygen by combustion, and a flexible tube 

 to reach to the floor of the mine, where carburetted hydrogen is 

 less likelv to be met with than nearer the roof. To this con- 

 trivance the objection was, that witliout great care in managing 

 the bellows, the light might be easily extinguished ; tlic tube 

 also appeared to be an unnecessary incumbrance. 



Of Sir H. Davy's and and Dr. Murray's lamps nothing need 

 be said, descriptions of them having been printed in some of 



the 



